The Hon Christopher Pyne MP

Parliamentary Secretary to the
Minister for Health and Ageing

7 November  2005

Food on the Move

Food Safety Week 2005: 7-13 November

Launching Food Safety Week, which begins today, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health and Ageing, Christopher Pyne, said the theme of the week was ‘Food on the Move’.

Publicity during the week would remind Australians, particularly older Australians, that they need to take extra care with handling food when they were travelling.

‘It’s great to see people taking advantage of our wonderful climate to enjoy the outdoor life’, Mr Pyne said.

‘But imagine what it would be like if you got food poisoning when you were in a remote area, a long way from a doctor and with limited facilities.

‘Food poisoning is more of a risk in hot weather, particularly when we’re travelling because it’s harder to keep food at a safe temperature. High-risk food may also need to be kept longer because of long distances between shops.

‘Often there is less workspace and equipment available, which raises the risk of cross contaminating the food.   Also, clean water for washing ingredients, utensils and hands may be in short supply or not available.

‘As we get older, the consequences of getting food poisoning become more severe, so retirees who travel around the country, who have become known as the ‘grey nomads’ may be particularly at risk,’ Mr Pyne said.

During this week, the Food Safety Information Council will be distributing fact sheets to help Australians who go camping or bushwalking, as well as those travelling in caravans, motor homes and campers to keep their food safe.

The fact sheets are available on the council’s web site www.foodsafety.asn.au and will also be available at many national parks and other venues frequented by travellers.

‘Food Safety Week will also draw attention to the risks of food poisoning when food is ‘on the move’ such as bringing food home from the supermarket or taking it to the barbecue site,” Mr Pyne said.

‘Spending time outdoors is really good for us, we just need to be a bit more cautious about food handling to make sure that we stay healthy to enjoy the holiday.’

The Food Safety Information Council is a not-for-profit group of   Australian Government and state government agencies, the food industry, consumer groups and professional associations. The council’s job is to educate consumers in safe food handling. There is more information on its web site www.foodsafety.asn.au .

Media contacts:

Adam Howard, Mr Pyne’s Office - 0400 414 833

Lydia Buchtmann, Food Standards Australia New Zealand,   (02) 6271 2620 or 0401 714 265 mobile

Tania Bradley, Food Safety Information Council, 02 6254 4896 or 0407 626 688

 

TV Chief of staffs please note:A video news release containing interviews with the Food Safety Information Council and footage of safe food handling for children will be sent from Sky at 10.15 am Monday 7 November 2004.

Radio chiefs of staff: Food Safety Information Council members are available to prerecord interviews from noon on Sunday 7 November 2004.